Life is make believe, fantasy given form

Fairies, Myths, & Magic: Book Review

Colleen Chesebro has a new book of poetry and short stories. The tagline is “A Summer Celebration” and how perfect that it was released on the summer solstice. I snapped it up and read it while the sun lollygagged overhead. Rather than quiz Colleen, I asked her if I could share my favorite short story from the book, and she agreed. Her gorgeous story “The Pond” struck a deep chord, as if she’d written it just for me. My review for the collection follows. ❤

The Pond

by Colleen Chesebro

My journey brings me to a nearby prairie slough where prescient reflections shimmer under the summer sun. Today, I am in pursuit of mythical enlightenment. You know, the kind where magic resonates in the shriek of a hawk and in the howling yips from the coyote pups that play on the sandy shore under a full moon. The alchemy of the moment is not lost on my hungering soul.

As I gaze into the pond, I see the reflections of the woman I’ve become, Past and future meld as one. For today, the wisdom I seek is my bond with the one.

***

My Review:

The tagline on this book is A Summer Celebration, and what better day to read it than on the summer solstice. Chesebro’s book is a collection of poetry and short stories that celebrates not only the presence of summer, but the connection of the human spirit to the Earth, a bond that is ancient, new, and eternal.

Some of the selections are playful like the mermaid bedtime story “A Fish Tale.” Or endearing like “Just What the Doctor Ordered,” in which two pixies get soused in a pitcher of mojitos. Others like “The Healer” take on mythic proportions and read like ancient legends.

But most delve into the mysterious and magical nature of the world around us and our journey through it. The theme of rebirth and self-discovery appears in both story and poem form, and these were perhaps my favorites because they felt both personal and universal. “The Rebirth” is a gorgeous haibun/tanka poem. “The Fairy Spider’s Lair” is full of Earth magic, and “The Pond” is a story that spoke to my soul. Just gorgeous.

I could go on and on, but you’ll have to pick up this book and read them yourself.

Bio:

Colleen M. Chesebro is a writer of YA fantasy and magical realism, cross-genre fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction. She loves all things magical which may mean that she could be experiencing her second childhood – or not. That part of her life hasn’t been fully decided yet.

A few years ago, a mystical experience led her to renew her passion for writing and storytelling. These days she resides in the fantasy realm of the Fairy Whisperer where she writes the magical poetry and stories that the fairy nymphs whisper to her in her dreams.

Colleen won the Little and Laugh Flash Fiction Contest sponsored by the CarrotRanch Literary Community.com in November 2017 for her piece, called “The Bus Stop.” Her debut novel, “The Heart Stone Chronicles: The Swamp Fairy,” won gold in the 2017 AuthorsDB.com cover contest.

Colleen lives in Colorado with her husband. When she is not writing, she enjoys spending time with her husband and friends. She also loves gardening, reading, and crocheting old-fashioned doilies into works of art. You can learn more about Colleen at www.colleenchesebro.com

169 thoughts on “Fairies, Myths, & Magic: Book Review”

Thanks so much for stopping by the check out the review, Tiffy. (And sorry for the late reply… I was traveling). It really is a delightful and magical book for when you don’t want anything too heavy. I hope you enjoy the read. 🙂 Happy a great day!

Thanks, Vashti! Colleen did a wonderful job with this book, and it was a pleasure to read. Sorry about the late reply. I was technology-free for two weeks. Back now and catching up. 🙂 Have a great weekend and I’ll be over soon.

That’s okay. Believe me I understand. I’m leaving to Japan in a couple of days and I don’t know if I’ll be able to get online while there. Our itinerary is hectic and I don’t know the wifi situation, so I guess I’ll know once I’m there. Now, I’m just trying to get everything ready for the trip. You have a wonderful week! 😀 xx

Reblogged this on Colleen Chesebro ~ The Fairy Whisperer and commented:
I was thrilled that Diana featured me on her blog, Myths of the Mirror. (A favorite book of mine) Please stop by and say hello. Don’t forget my new book, Fairies, Myths, & Magic ~ A Summer Celebration is on sale for $.99 Kindle, and $5.99 for the paperback through this summer. Hugs on the wing! ❤

Thanks for the visit and for checking out the story and review. A lovely read for a sunny afternoon, Julie. I’m a little under the weather so will catch up with your posts tomorrow or Tuesday. Until then…Happy Writing! ❤

Thanks for stopping by, Sean. Yes, I think we both recognize that there is more to this planet than meets the scientific eye. Right now we call it magic. Perhaps a century from now, we’ll have the empirical skills to move it into reality. 🙂 Fun to think about! Have a great weekend. ❤

Einstein was amazing wasn’t he. He gave us so many completely unexpected and awesome quotes about the imagination, fantasy, wonder, and the possibilities dangling out there in the unknown. I think that open-mindedness is part of true genius. 😀

Thanks for stopping by, Jina. It is a wonderful book. Some of the poems and stories are fine for kids, but a lot of these have a depth that taps into a more mature human experience. Definitely a lovely summer read. 🙂

You had me at the “lollygagging” sun. And then Colleen’s short story, which pulled me in with wonder. Lovely words. Lovely stories. Lovely review, Diana. And Colleen – to our past, present and future selves, bonded as one. xo

Thanks for stopping by Annika. It’s a wonderful little book and a real treat for a summer’s day. Isn’t that piece beautiful. I love the way nature reflects our spirit. Have a fantastic weekend, my friend. 🙂

-grin- I always love to see what you’re up to! Actually I think WP may not be to blame for this one. I’ve installed another anti-tracking app./thing called Disconnect so it may be the cause. Ah well. 🙂

I’m glad you liked the review, Celestine. Colleen did a nice job with this collection. You might enjoy her website too as her weekly challenges include haiku as an option. 🙂 Have a wonderful day and Happy Writing!

Reblogged this on DSM Publications and commented:
Check out this review of the story collection, Fairies, Myths, & Magic – A Summer Celebration, by Colleen Chesebro, as featured in this post from the Myths of the Mirror blog.

I follow Colleen but rarely get to her site – it’s just a matter of time allowance online – but I love this little excerpt and I love that bio pic of her – and as it appears we have a similar take on life, I really must allow just a little more online time 🙂

Oh good! I really loved that piece. It reminded me in a way of The Mirror. 🙂 And what a treat that you included the review in the print version, Colleen. I’m honored. Well, enjoy the comments and have fun over here. 🙂 ❤

Thanks for the comment, Basilike. I’m sorry for the delay in commenting. I found you in my spam folder. 😦 It’s a sweet book that I read in an afternoon. All I was missing was a hammock. 🙂 Have a lovely week, my friend. ❤

Thanks for visiting, Cheryl. This is a quick read with some lovely variety. Colleen’s site is worth visiting too if you have a chance. She’s an active blogger. I don’t know how she does it all, to be frank. Lol. Have a great week!

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